Deltaport Third BerthDeltaport Third Berth

Adaptive Management Strategy

AMS Objective

� To provide practical advance warning of the potential for the construction of DP3 to impact the potential for the construction of DP3 to impact the inter-causeway area habitat through eutrophication

and/or erosion.

AMS Contributors

AMS developed collaboratively with input from:

� Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

� Environment Canada (including CWS)

� Fisheries and Oceans Canada� Fisheries and Oceans Canada

� Natural Resources Canada

� Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency� Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

� Geological Survey of Canada

� Hemmera

� Precision Identification Biological Consultants (eelgrass specialists)

� Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (geomorphology)

AMS Project Team

Mike Geraghty

(Hemmera)(Hemmera)

Project Manager

Christine Lussier

(Hemmera)James Rourke

(Hemmera)

Derek Ray

(NHC) Cynthia Durance

(Precision)(Hemmera)

Water, Sediment

& Benthos

(Hemmera)

Birds

Coastal

Geomorpholgy

(Precision)

Eelgrass

Key Components of the AMS

CoastalCoastal

Geomorph

ology

EelgrassBenthos

AMS

Birds

Surface

Water & BirdsWater &

Sediment

AMS Schedule

Water & SedimentQuarterly

EelgrassQuarterly

Continuous via Sonde (DO, pH, temp) initially then quarterly in 2009

Q3

BenthosBenthos

Q1 only

Geomorphology

BirdsBiweekly to May 2008

Every 4 weeks

Q1 and Q3 for Crest Protection

Quarterly for erosion and deposition

Q1 and Q3 for sediment grain size Every 4 weeks beginning June 2008

Windshield surveys for great blue heron &

Q1 and Q3 for sediment grain size

Continuous turbidity via sonde

Q3 (July) for aerial photography great blue heron & brant added in June 2008.

Q3 (July) for aerial photography

AMS Review Process

Final Report

Submission

Data

CollectionSubmission Collection

Lab

AnalysisResponse to

Comments Analysis

Data QA

Comments

Data QA

ReviewSAC Review

Data Compilation

Data Evaluation

Report

Preparation

Draft Report

Submitted to

VFPA/SACVFPA/SAC

Geomorphology Monitoring Locations

Geomorphology – Key Take Aways

� Low magnitude of erosion/deposition (< 10cm), as predicted.predicted.

� Suspended sediment concentration (turbidity) is very low and within predicted range.

� Drainage channels that formed adjacent to the Perimeter � Drainage channels that formed adjacent to the Perimeter Dike have stabilized and are no longer active.

� Tidal flats near DP3 appear insensitive to typical storm events.events.

� Little change to the Crest Protection Structure.

Water, Sediment and Benthos

Monitoring LocationsMonitoring Locations

Water Quality – Key Take Aways

� No metals exceeded the federal CCME water quality criteria.criteria.

� A few metals exceeded the provincial guidelines, but were within known ranges for seawater or were linked to suspended sediment.suspended sediment.

� Highest metals concentrations typically noted from upland ditch at DP01.upland ditch at DP01.

Water Quality – Nutrient Trends

Water Quality – Key Take Aways

� Nitrate levels met the federal CCME criteria.

� Nutrient concentrations were typically higher in inter-causeway area than at reference stations.

� Highest nutrient concentrations typically associated with � Highest nutrient concentrations typically associated with the upland ditch at DP01.

� Some parameters showed seasonal variation (e.g. a � Some parameters showed seasonal variation (e.g. a decrease in dissolved oxygen in late summer/early fall), but there were no trends suggesting eutrophication.

Critical Take Aways – SedimentSediment Quality – Key Take Aways

� No parameters exceeded BC MOE sediment criteria for sensitive marine sites.sensitive marine sites.

� Metal concentrations in the intertidal zone were consistently lower in the inter-causeway area than at the reference station.reference station.

� Nutrient concentrations varied seasonally, but there were no trends suggesting eutrophication.no trends suggesting eutrophication.

Critical Take Aways – SedimentBenthos – Key Take Aways

� The benthic invertebrate populations in both the inter-causeway area and the reference area appeared diverse, causeway area and the reference area appeared diverse,

healthy, and well established.

� There were no observed trends suggesting� There were no observed trends suggestingsediment disturbances and/or eutrophication.

� The 2009 Annual report with year 3 data will build on the data from years 1 and 2 discussed in the 2008 Annual data from years 1 and 2 discussed in the 2008 Annual Report to evaluate further the year to year changes in the benthic community structure.

� Two extra sampling stationsadded in 2008 (DP08) and2009 (DP09).2009 (DP09).

Eelgrass Monitoring Locations

Eelgrass

No Changes.

2007 Eelgrass Mapping

Eelgrass

No Changes.2003 Eelgrass Mapping2003 Eelgrass Mapping

Eelgrass

No Changes.2007 Eelgrass Mapping

Eelgrass

No Changes.2008 Eelgrass Mapping2008 Eelgrass Mapping2008 Eelgrass Mapping

Critical Take Aways – EelgrassEelgrass – KeyTake Aways

� Eelgrass community is healthy.

� Epiphytes within normal range and no Beggiatoa.� Epiphytes within normal range and no Beggiatoa.

� No impacts from DP3 construction on measured growth parameters.parameters.

� Eelgrass productivity generally increased in 2008 from 2007.

� Eelgrass is recovering in the area of the drainage channels.

� Net increase in eelgrass� Net increase in eelgrasshabitat since 2003.

Bird Monitoring Transects (2007)

Reduced Bird Monitoring Transects (2008)

Critical Take Aways – BirdsBird Surveys – Key Take Aways

� Results in 2008 and 2009 similar to 2007.

� As predicted, impacts limited to loss of habitat from � As predicted, impacts limited to loss of habitat from project footprint. Birds used alternate available habitat in the inter-causeway area.

� There were no other observed impacts to herons, brant geese, shorebirds (sandpipers and dunlin), coastal waterbirds or other birds.

Program ChangesSummary of Adaptations

Surface Water, Sediment, and Benthos

� Hydrocarbons (PAHs) dropped in 2007. � Hydrocarbons (PAHs) dropped in 2007.

� Added DP08 (2008) and DP09 (2009) for benthos.

� Additional 2008 benthos sampling completed.

Coastal Geomorphology

� Added 8 DoD rods to monitor the area of the new drainage � Added 8 DoD rods to monitor the area of the new drainage channels.

� Reduced Crest Protection monitoring to twice per year.

Program ChangesSummary of Adaptations

. Eelgrass

� Additional station added between Sites 1 and 2 for � Additional station added between Sites 1 and 2 for 2009.

BirdsBirds

� Surveys reduced from every 2 weeks to every 4 weeks from June 2008, except during spring sandpiper migration.migration.

� Distance categories changed to make data more comparable to 2004 CWS Surveys.

� Winter surveys December to February reduced to only � Winter surveys December to February reduced to only high tide.

� Ferry causeway transect dropped and TFN transect reduced from 5 stations to 3.

� Windshield surveys during key periods for Brant geese (Nov to May) and herons (May to Oct.).

AMS Summary to Date

� There were no geomorphological changes of concern.

� Drainage channels outside perimeter dike have � Drainage channels outside perimeter dike have stabilized.

� Turbidity is low.� Turbidity is low.

� The sediment, water, benthos, bird & eelgrass data showed no evidence of adverse impacts from DP3 construction and no evidenceconstruction and no evidenceof a trend towards eutrophication.

� Will continue to monitor� Will continue to monitorfor trends and look into whatother ports are doing aroundeutrophication.eutrophication.